A retired Professor of Botany at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof Omotoye Olorode, has lamented that the ruling class has become an enemy of the people.
Olurode also raised the alarm that Nigeria has become a bourgeoise state.
This observation formed part of the second Osun State University, UNIOSUN, annual lecture titled, ‘Collective Bargaining in Labour Relations: Interrogating the impact of FGN-Staff Unions Agreements on the Nigerian University System’.
Delivering the lecture on Thursday, Olurode, who is the guest speaker, stressed that university lectures were important because they afford the system opportunity to address issues affecting the society point blank.
He said, “We do not have opportunity to address questions. It only what we hear on the broadcast stations and the studios things we see in the social media. This is really dangerous. The university system is in danger and it is in a really terrible position.”
He also decried the attempts to demobilise public universities for private ones and the extent of inequality.
He noted that the demands for university autonomy and academic freedom are not, and must not be construed as demand for licence and elitist.
He called out the ruling class for having plans to make Nigeria copy developed countries noting that these countries already have societal problems they are battling with.
“This has fuelled insecurity and God is not going to answer anybody praying against insecurity because He did not create it.”
He also disclosed that attacks on public sector and trade unions were the origins of the crisis in Nigeria’s public funded education sector between 1978 and 1988.
The UNIOSUN Vice Chancellor, Prof Odunayo Clement Adebooye, in his welcome address said the university system engages in public lectures and traditions to proffer solutions to issues and how government can respond to issues that affect the human race
He also said public lectures contributes to the global vehicle of knowledge.
He recalled that he had once pleaded with Femi Gbajabiamila, President Bola Tinubu’s Chief Of Staff, to revisit the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN-Staff Unions Agreements on the Nigerian university system.
He disclosed that the aim of the lecture qis to sensitise all that every stakeholders must understand the dynamic that it is the system and the state that will take the toll.